Monday, July 18, 2011

The Internet's foundation

The proliferation of the Internet and the World Wide Web changed the way people communicate, behave and how we see the world. The videos mention several unique opportunities the Internet has produced during its development that other media outlets have failed to ignore.

While watching the second video, I heard several interesting facts I was unaware of before viewing "Search". I like the attention getter--imagine a world without Google--and the fact that 10 years ago Google did not exist. Perhaps more interesting is the fact that five years ago most search engines like Yahoo! and excite were not being utilized either.I enjoyed learning how Yahoo! emerged and became a successful company. For example, I found it fascinating that Jerry and David's inspiration for Yahoo! all started because of a fantasy basketball league. It makes me wonder if they would have been as successful if they never changed the name from Jerry & David's guide to the World Wide Web to Yahoo!.

The most interesting aspect of the video People Power, is exactly what the title implies. It's nice to know Mark Zuckerberg isn't taking him self too seriously--the video illustrates this by mentioning his casual wardrobe when boarding a jet accompanied by NYT staff.

One of the common themes I noticed across the development of the Internet is the demographics of its leaders. Most of the developers and founders were young, white, educated and males. California was portrayed as the popular location for these young entrepreneurs in the 1990s and early 2000. Another reoccurring theme is how advertising seems to be the driving force behind the success of the Internet, which is similar to other media outlets like T.V. and magazines.

I believe the Internet will continue to offer several opportunities in the future. I think it will become even more user friendly and a necessary form of communication. I believe people, but more specifically Americans, will become even more dependent on the Internet as its possibilities expand, even to an unhealthy level. However, I hope more sites like YouTube and digg emerge and transform the way we communicate and interact on the Internet. Another trend of the Internet is that it is helping bridge the digital divide in the US. While more Americans gain access, I believe they will become better informed and more media literate.